Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal’s research while affiliated with Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU and other places

Aedes albopictus has established populations in several European countries with a sustained spreading pattern through the continent. This invasive mosquito is a public health threat due to its vector competence for multiple arboviruses. Notably, the peri-domestic habits of this hematophagous insect greatly diminish the efficacy of regular control activities, as individuals may harbor in private areas. The oviposition behavior can be exploited for targeting adults and immature stages through different types of traps. An experimental integrated control program, which included a community-based mass trapping intervention in private areas, control of public street-catch basins, and an educational campaign, was developed in an infested residential area in Valencia (Eastern Spain). Focusing on mass trapping, participating residents deployed traps belonging to three modes of action in their gardens during the mosquito season. A total of 1028 families participated in the project, and 2884 traps were deployed. The study sector where adult lethal ovitraps were used showed the lowest adult collections, and residents living in this sector reported the highest satisfaction rates in a perception survey. The mass deployment through a community-based approach of the adulticidal oviposition trap type appears to be a promising tool for controlling Ae. albopictus in residential areas.

Between December 2020 and March 2022, three cases of fatal meningoencephalitis were documented in two red-fronted brown lemurs (Eulemur rufus) and a ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) at the Bioparc in Valencia, eastern Spain. Post-mortem analyses revealed moderate congestion in the meninges of the brain in all cases. Multifocal areas of hemorrhage were observed in one lemur, primarily in the cerebellum and brainstem. Histopathological examination showed mainly acute hemorrhagic and necrotic changes, together with moderate eosinophilic and/or histiocytic meningoencephalitis, with perivascular cuffing, and gliosis. Numerous nematode larvae were found in the meninges, brain, and spinal cord, with or without associated inflammation, hemorrhage, and necrosis. Considering the affected host species, nematode morphology, and its anatomical localization, Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae) was suspected as the causative agent. Phylogenetic studies based on the internal transcriber spacer 1/cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (ITS1/COI) genes confirmed the initial suspicion of this zoonotic parasite and its relationship to sequences from the Balearic and Canary Islands. This is the first known detection of A. cantonensis in non-human primates in Europe and it represents one of the few occurrences reported in the Palearctic region to date. Further research on this zoonotic parasite is crucial to understanding its spread in Spain, assessing public health risks, and developing effective control measures to mitigate outbreaks and protect human and animal health.

Recent outbreaks of Oropouche virus (OROV) in Latin America demonstrate shifting epidemiological trends, with increasing clinical severity and geographic expansion driven by environmental and anthropogenic factors, many of which remain uncertain. Viral evolution with new reassortant strains, changes in vectors, environmental degradation, and human activities have been postulated as factors that have facilitated its spread into new areas beyond the Amazon Basin. Multiple reports starting in July 2024 of pregnant women with Oropouche fever developing vertical infections and adverse perinatal outcomes, including placental infection, stillbirth, and fetal infections with microcephaly and malformation syndromes, have reinforced the public health significance of this disease. Here, we describe the evidence surrounding this re-emerging epidemic threat, examine these changes, and propose specific strategies for enhanced surveillance and a public health response.

The genus Phortica (Diptera: Drosophilidae) includes five species of small flies in Europe. Phortica variegata, the zoophilic fruit fly, is the main vector of Thelazia callipaeda, a zoonotic parasite that is rapidly spreading througout Europe. Despite extensive studies on thelaziosis in animals and humans, there is limited knowledge about the geographical distribution and hovering activity of these vector flies. In 2023, 1,462 Phortica flies were sampled across 12 Spanish provinces, providing new records of Phortica variegata and Phortica oldenbergi. Surprisingly, P. oldenbergi, previously considered a rare Afrotropical species, was prevalent in most regions sampled in Spain. However, Phortica semivirgo was not collected. The abundance of Phortica spp. correlated positively with altitude and certain tree species. Rural oak-wooded areas in central and northern Spain showed the highest densities of P. variegata. Both droso-philid species were analysed morphologically and molecularly, providing new morphological descriptors and sequence barcodes for species identification. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI sequences, showed P. oldenbergi grouped with Asian origin Phortica species, while P. variegata in America was closer to Spanish sequences than those from other European countries. The hovering activity of P. variegata causes significant discomfort to humans during outdoor activities. This paper also reviews the historic records of P. variegata, P. semivirgo and P. oldenbergi in Spain over the last 90 years. This study enhances the understanding of the distribution, identification, ecology, and behaviour of these zoophilic flies in Europe.

Aedes albopictus is steadily spreading from southern Europe into northern countries, posing a health threat due to its capacity for arbovirus transmission. This research compares the efficacy of two sticky traps for capturing gravid Ae. albopictus females. A monitoring study and three independent efficacy assays comparing INESTRAP with BG-GAT were conducted in Valencia (eastern Spain) during the 2023 mosquito season. Captures in the monitoring trial with the INESTRAP model showed that adult Ae. albopictus had two activity peaks, with an average capture rate of 1.99 Ae. albopictus per trap and day. The three comparison assays found that INESTRAP caught 2.46–4.34 more mosquitoes than BG-GAT. Statistical differences were observed between both trapping devices in different independent assays. Gravid females were the main individuals captured by INESTRAP (62.71%), although blood-fed (26.27%) and non-blood-fed females (11.02%) individuals were also found in sizeable numbers. BG-GATshowed a different capture’s profile with a dominant captures of gravid females (82.9%) and very limited males (2.4%). The results point to INESTRAP’s potential effectiveness for Ae.albopictus monitoring and control.

Vector-borne diseases represent various sicknesses that are increasingly significant in human and veterinary health. Among the zoonotic agents transmitted by ticks, infections caused by the intracellular pathogens from the Anaplasmataceae family and piroplasmids (Babesia/Theileria spp.) are particularly notable due to the substantial economic losses they cause in the livestock sector. A study was carried out to assess the prevalence of these pathogens in ticks from ruminants in the province of Valencia (Eastern Iberian Peninsula). Between 2019 and 2022, 1,674 ticks were collected from 163 domestic and wild ruminants. The tick species were identified using molecular and morphological features and included Rhipicephalus spp. (Rhipicephalus bursa and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) (88.7%), Haemaphysalis sulcata (5.9%), Ixodes ricinus (3.6%), and Dermacentor marginatum (1.2%). The Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) was found to be at greater risk of infestation by Haemaphysalis compared to other ruminants. PCR analysis was performed on 108 individual ticks from different hosts, with 16.7% testing positive for members of the Anaplasmataceae family and 39.8% for Theileria spp. Sequencing of ten positive samples from each pathogen group revealed the presence of Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia spp., Theileria ovis, and Theileria capreoli. No Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Babesia spp. were detected. Further research is essential for improved management of ticks and the diseases they transmit in the study area.